ALBANY, Ga. -- Albany's city manager has upheld the airport director's recommendation for termination of an employee who contends he had permission to take scraps left over from an airport building project.

In a letter released Thursday after a request by The Albany Herald, City Manager Alfred Lott wrote that after reviewing the case presented at employee Sean Reddish's termination appeal hearing, he had decided to sustain Southwest Georgia Regional Airport Director Yvette Aehle's recommendation for termination.

Reddish is facing felony theft charges after he was accused of taking materials left over from a lighting and signage project at

the Southwest Georgia Regional Airport and selling it to a local scrap metal company.

Through his attorney Phil Cannon, Reddish maintains he had permission from the contractor to collect the excess materials and he has done nothing improper or criminal.

On Nov. 2, Reddish was indicted by a Dougherty Grand Jury for theft by taking and theft by deception.

Reddish has never denied he collected the materials and hauled them away from the airport, but has always said he had permission to do so.

Lott offered no reason in his letter to Cannon on Thursday. He was unavailable for comment Thursday and won't return to the office until Monday, his administrative assistant said.